Employee Performance Reviews and Pretext
by Paul Ross As veterans of employment litigation can tell you, employment discrimination claims are rarely supported by direct evidence of discriminatory decision making. In the overwhelming majority...
View ArticleIndividual Liability for Wage and Hour Claims
by Kara E. Shea I recently participated in hosting a Wage and Hour Virtual Summit webinar. Wage and hour compliance — overtime, work-time issues, exempt status — is always a lively topic and typically...
View ArticleEEOC Claims Reach Record Level, What Employers Can Do
When the economy declines, it’s a safe bet that the number of discrimination claims filed against employers will increase. And as we are currently in the worst economic climate since the Great...
View ArticleRelying on Luck to Avoid Employee Legal Claims Is Dangerous and Expensive
Here’s a case that will probably make employers feel great about their own compliance efforts. You know who you are: You train your new hires on all company policies, you have sparkling and...
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Former Employee Keeps Reapplying Despite Rejection Letters
by Reggie Gay Q: We have a job applicant who worked for us approximately six years ago. There’s nothing negative in her file, but there were some issues with her job performance. Neither of her former...
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Make the Workplace a Drama-Free Zone
By Marie G. McIntyre, Ph.D. Do you have a drama queen (or king) in your office? For these employees, a calm, peaceful workday is simply not very rewarding, so they try to spice things up with dramatic...
View ArticleEmployer That Retaliates Digs Its Own Grave
by Boyd A. Byers The thirst for revenge is among the strongest of human emotions. In fact, the innate desire to “get even” has driven much of history. But acting on vindictive feelings can have dire...
View ArticleWasting Time at Work: Do You Try to Stop the Madness or Just Go with It?
It’s March — the culmination of a long and productive season for the country’s top college basketball teams. It’s also the beginning of a less productive season in the workplace. March Madness may...
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Some HR resolutions for the new year
by Joseph Godwin Happy New Year! I hope the holiday season was a joy-filled one with plenty of time to spend with family and friends ― the most important people in our lives. Now it’s January and time...
View ArticleSurvey says: training and development
Recently, BLR surveyed 700 HR professionals on the training and development practices at their organizations. The survey asked about types of training conducted, frequency of training, training...
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Finding a cure for bad bosses
Horror stories abound of bad bosses. Some are bullies, others inept, still others well-meaning but ineffective. Whatever the reason, bad bosses damage productivity and morale. They also take a toll on...
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Employers: Be prepared for an EEOC lawsuit
by Kevin J. Skelly Employers sued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) often face more challenging demands for discovery and settlement agreements than companies facing lawsuits filed...
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Giving thanks: an employment lawyer’s list
by Richard Rainey As the holidays approach, we’ll gather with loved ones and hopefully have a chance to reflect on what we’re thankful for in our personal lives. In keeping with that tradition, we’ve...
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Keeping bad bosses at bay: How HR can make a difference
It’s an HR nightmare. A boss pressures an employee to lie, cheat, and steal as part of the job. Maybe that same boss also routinely yells and curses at employees or makes them work uncompensated...
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Do you want bosses or leaders? Getting the most from managers
Bosses come in various forms. Some rule with an iron hand, others take instructions from on high and then make sure the orders are carried out by underlings, and others truly inspire everyone on their...
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Quickie election rules are coming—are your managers and supervisors ready?
by Robert M. Vercruysse In February 2014, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) once again announced that it was going to change the rules for Board-conducted elections. This time, there is a...
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Get involved or steer clear? What’s HR to do when complaints roll in?
Ahh, the human resources department. The place where compassionate, friendly people solve problems in the workplace. A place filled with intelligent professionals uniquely qualified to turn conflict...
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Workplace communication: It’s more than just talking
Everybody knows the importance of effective communication in the workplace. Achieving it, though, can be tricky. Some people speak without listening. Others find themselves too distracted to understand...
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‘Tis the season: resolutions for the new year
by Leslie Bakken Oliver It’s that time again, when many of us take inventory of the past year and make resolutions for the coming year—for example, to do better, work smarter, become more efficient, or...
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Worried about ‘quickie election’ rule? Attorneys urge supervisor training
The much ballyhooed National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) rule shortening the process leading up to unionization elections is now in force, leaving employers scrambling to figure out how best to...
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